24 facts in comparison
Canon PIXMA TR7120 vs Epson Expression Photo XP-980
This comparison puts the Canon PIXMA TR7120 and Epson Expression Photo XP-980 side by side — two printers measured against the same 24-spec sheet, with every meaningful gap scored and explained. On our weighted VS Score the Canon PIXMA TR7120 finishes ahead, 90 to 72 — a decisive result.
The most consequential difference is automatic document feeder — the Canon PIXMA TR7120 has it, the Epson Expression Photo XP-980 does not. A transparency note before you dive in: the spec sheets are Canon PIXMA TR7120 88% and Epson Expression Photo XP-980 92% complete. Anything unverified shows as Unknown and is left out of the scores — we never estimate a missing value.
Where the Canon PIXMA TR7120 beats the Epson Expression Photo XP-980
- A much higher print speed (black) ?14 ppm vs 8.5 ppm
- A higher print speed (color) ?9 ppm vs 8 ppm
- Has automatic document feeder ?
Where the Epson Expression Photo XP-980 beats the Canon PIXMA TR7120
- A much higher print resolution ?5,760 dpi vs 1,200 dpi
- Has ethernet ?
- Has touchscreen display ?
Key real-world differences
The spec sheet pulls in both directions. These are the gaps big enough to shape the decision — with the actual figures, and what each one means in real-world use.
- Automatic document feederScanning & copyingYes vs No — only the Canon PIXMA TR7120 has it
Feeds multi-page documents through the scanner unattended.
- Print speed (black)Printing14 ppm vs 8.5 ppm — 39% more for the Canon PIXMA TR7120
Black-and-white pages per minute; higher is faster.
- EthernetConnectivityNo vs Yes — only the Epson Expression Photo XP-980 has it
A wired network port for reliable office use.
- Touchscreen displayDesignNo vs Yes — only the Epson Expression Photo XP-980 has it
An onboard touchscreen makes standalone tasks easier.
- Print resolutionPrinting1,200 dpi vs 5,760 dpi — 4.8× more for the Epson Expression Photo XP-980
A higher dot density produces sharper prints.
Which one should you buy?
There is no single answer — it depends on what you will actually use it for. Match your priority to the pick below.
- Best for printing Canon PIXMA TR7120 takes the category 92 to 54 — driven by print speed (black) (14 ppm vs 8.5 ppm).
- Best for scanning & copying Canon PIXMA TR7120 takes the category 100 to 63 — driven by automatic document feeder (Yes vs No).
- Best for connectivity Epson Expression Photo XP-980 takes the category 100 to 84 — driven by ethernet (No vs Yes).
- Best for design Epson Expression Photo XP-980 takes the category 100 to 0 — driven by touchscreen display (No vs Yes).
- The safe all-rounder Canon PIXMA TR7120 wins more of the categories that carry real weight, topping the overall VS Score at 90.
Where each one falls short
Canon PIXMA TR7120
- Ethernet: No vs Yes
- Touchscreen display: No vs Yes
- Print resolution: 1,200 dpi vs 5,760 dpi
- 3 specs are unreported (shown as Unknown) and excluded from its scores.
Epson Expression Photo XP-980
- Automatic document feeder: Yes vs No
- Print speed (black): 14 ppm vs 8.5 ppm
- Print speed (color): 9 ppm vs 8 ppm
- 2 specs are unreported (shown as Unknown) and excluded from its scores.
What matters to you?
Drag the sliders to weight each category and re-rank the products to suit your priorities.
Score breakdown
How the VS Score works — and what it can’t tell you
Every measurable spec is scored relative to this matchup: the best value here earns 100%, the worst 0%, and everything between scales linearly. Each spec then counts according to an editorial weight that reflects real-world impact — a battery-capacity gap moves the score far more than a colour-options list. The category scores above are the weighted results inside each group, and the overall VS Score rolls all of them together; the evidence line under each category names the specs that actually decided it.
Unknown values are never estimated. A spec a product doesn’t report simply drops out of that product’s scoring — it isn’t penalised with a guess — and a spec only one side reports can never produce a “win”. The trade-off is honest but real: a thinner spec sheet means a score built on fewer data points, which is why the completeness figures are disclosed under About this data.
Most importantly: a spec-sheet lead is not the same as a better product. Megapixels, gigahertz and benchmark points describe capacity, not experience — image processing, software optimisation, thermals, haptics and ergonomics decide how a device actually feels, and no table captures reliability or long-term support quality. Treat the scores as a structured summary of what can be measured, read the caveats under each key difference, and use the weight tuner to re-rank the comparison by what matters to you.
Printing
Laser prints crisp text fast; inkjet handles photos and colour better.
Prints in colour, not just black and white.
Black-and-white pages per minute; higher is faster.
Colour pages per minute; higher is faster.
A higher dot density produces sharper prints.
Prints both sides of the page without manual flipping.
Refillable ink tanks cut the cost per page dramatically.
The maximum recommended pages per month.
Scanning & copying
Scans and copies as well as prints.
Feeds multi-page documents through the scanner unattended.
How many pages the document feeder holds at once.
Scans both sides of a page automatically.
Sends and receives faxes.
Paper handling
A larger tray needs refilling less often.
How many printed pages the output tray holds.
The largest paper format supported (e.g. Letter, Legal, A3).
Connectivity
Print wirelessly over the home network.
Connect devices directly without a router.
A wired network port for reliable office use.
A direct USB connection to a computer.
Print from iPhone, iPad and Mac without extra drivers.
Print and manage the printer from a phone app.
Design
An onboard touchscreen makes standalone tasks easier.
A lighter printer is easier to place and move.
About this data
- Specifications are compiled from each manufacturer’s official spec sheet, cross-checked against trusted specification databases, and normalised into one schema so identical things are compared identically.
- Specifications last verified August 24, 2026.
- Data completeness: Canon PIXMA TR7120 88% and Epson Expression Photo XP-980 92% of the 24 specs in this category. Anything we could not verify is shown as Unknown — never estimated — and is excluded from all scores.
- Prices and availability come from live retailer feeds via our shopping partners and refresh throughout the day; a missing price means no partner currently lists the product, not that it is discontinued.
- Want the full picture? Our editorial guidelines explain how we research products, weight the scores and stay independent.
- Spotted an error in a spec? Tell us and we will correct the sheet.
What reviewers say
The bottom line
The Canon PIXMA TR7120 is the clear winner, scoring 90 to 72 on our VS Score. It leads on Printing and Scanning & copying. The Epson Expression Photo XP-980 answers back with stronger Connectivity and Design. Pick the Canon PIXMA TR7120 unless Connectivity and Design matters most to you — then the Epson Expression Photo XP-980 is the smarter buy.
